Regency England, 1820, the western Midlands near the Welsh border. Charlotte Forrest is still working hard to maintain her independence as a woman while pursuing a strengthening relationship with Benjamin Stoker. Marriage may be in the cards, but it must be on her own terms; her mother is still relentlessly pressing for the monetary support Ben can bring to the waning Forrest fortunes. She wants to be sure marriage is for the right reasons. She turns to her more supportive family, friendships, and desire to be an author as a way to establish herself as a fulfilled person. Charlotte's first novel is being written as she's hoping to clear a path for her own destiny, one that isn't tied solely to marriage and family obligations. But Ben and Charlotte are each struggling with their own individual battles. Ben's professional rival at the mill is plotting revenge and could end either his career or even his life. An investment presents itself, a gamble that could secure his fortune and help him leave the confines of mill life. Meanwhile, Charlotte's sister Emily is making decisions that threaten to bring scandal to the family. The younger members of the Forrest family are faced with a violent blackmailer intent on destroying all they hold dear. Ben and Charlotte will need to lean on one another to help resolve their mounting problems. As they draw closer to try to repair their issues, one lingering question will still need to be answered, and soon; when will they finally become man and wife?